God Is Love

Beloved, (A)let us love one another, for love is from God, and (B)whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (C)Anyone who does not love does not know God, because (D)God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that (E)God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, (F)not that we have loved God (G)but that he loved us and sent his Son to be (H)the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 (I)No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and (J)his love is perfected in us.

13 (K)By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And (L)we have seen and testify that (M)the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of (N)the world. 15 (O)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So (P)we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. (Q)God is love, and (R)whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this (S)is love perfected with us, so that (T)we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because (U)as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but (V)perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not (W)been perfected in love. 19 (X)We love because he first loved us. 20 (Y)If anyone says, “I love God,” and (Z)hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God (AA)whom he has not seen. 21 And (AB)this commandment we have from him: (AC)whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Overcoming the World

(AD)Everyone who believes that (AE)Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and (AF)everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (AG)By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For (AH)this is the love of God, that we (AI)keep his commandments. And (AJ)his commandments are not burdensome. For (AK)everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—(AL)our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes (AM)that Jesus is the Son of God?

Testimony Concerning the Son of God

This is he who came (AN)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And (AO)the Spirit is the one who testifies, because (AP)the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. (AQ)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God (AR)that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God (AS)has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God (AT)has made him a liar, (AU)because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us (AV)eternal life, and (AW)this life is in his Son. 12 (AX)Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

That You May Know

13 I write (AY)these things to you who (AZ)believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is (BA)the confidence that we have toward him, that (BB)if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and (BC)God[b] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. (BD)There is sin that leads to death; (BE)I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 (BF)All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that (BG)everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but (BH)he who was born of God (BI)protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and (BJ)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and (BK)has given us understanding, so that we may know (BL)him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and (BM)eternal life. 21 Little children, (BN)keep yourselves from idols.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:20 Some manuscripts how can he
  2. 1 John 5:16 Greek he

God’s Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another,(A) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God(B) and knows God.(C) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(D) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(E) into the world that we might live through him.(F) 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(G) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(H) 11 Dear friends,(I) since God so loved us,(J) we also ought to love one another.(K) 12 No one has ever seen God;(L) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.(M)

13 This is how we know(N) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.(O) 14 And we have seen and testify(P) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.(Q) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(R) God lives in them and they in God.(S) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.(T) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(U) 17 This is how love is made complete(V) among us so that we will have confidence(W) on the day of judgment:(X) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(Y) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.(Z) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(AA) is a liar.(AB) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(AC) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(AD) 21 And he has given us this command:(AE) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(AF)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(AG) that Jesus is the Christ(AH) is born of God,(AI) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(AJ) This is how we know(AK) that we love the children of God:(AL) by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(AM) And his commands are not burdensome,(AN) for everyone born of God(AO) overcomes(AP) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(AQ)

This is the one who came by water and blood(AR)—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.(AS) For there are three(AT) that testify: the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony,(AU) but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,(AV) which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.(AW) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,(AX) because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,(AY) and this life is in his Son.(AZ) 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.(BA)

Concluding Affirmations

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God(BB) so that you may know that you have eternal life.(BC) 14 This is the confidence(BD) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(BE) 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know(BF) that we have what we asked of him.(BG)

16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.(BH) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.(BI) I am not saying that you should pray about that.(BJ) 17 All wrongdoing is sin,(BK) and there is sin that does not lead to death.(BL)

18 We know that anyone born of God(BM) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one(BN) cannot harm them.(BO) 19 We know that we are children of God,(BP) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.(BQ) 20 We know also that the Son of God has come(BR) and has given us understanding,(BS) so that we may know him who is true.(BT) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(BU)

21 Dear children,(BV) keep yourselves from idols.(BW)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)